Searching for Tina Turner by Jacqueline Luckett
By Dera Williams • Feb 11th, 2010 • Category: Book Review 2010 •
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Jacqueline Luckett’s debut novel, Searching for Tina Turner, explores a woman’s coming into her own and how she goes about making a change that empowers and validates her life. On the surface, Lena Spencer does not have it so bad; as a matter of fact many would say she has it damn good. She is married to a handsome, wealthy, high-powered executive, has a beautiful home in the Oakland hills of the San Francisco Bay Area, an active social life, two intelligent children, a fast red Mercedes sports car and all the clothes and jewelry she wants. They are walking in high cotton. In her 50s, she is now facing not only an empty nest but also feeling undervalued and underappreciated and a strong need to redefine herself. How can she get her husband, Randall, of 23 years, and her children to see she has goals and desires that have everything– and nothing to do with them? Lena has put off her dream as a photographer in order to help Randall reach the successes he has obtained. Lena is unhappy and nobody around her seems to get it.
Randall and Lena’s first date was a Tina Turner concert and a used copy of Tina’s autobiography is about to become the catalyst for the change that is to come. She admires Tina’s tenacity, strength of character and will to survive despite being an abused woman. Even though her life is different from Tina’s she feels they are kindred spirits. Within a few weeks after a volatile dinner party at their home, Lena’s life begins to unravel and she finds herself on the verge of divorce. Dealing with her angry children, ages 20 and 17, a mother who thinks she is making a mistake, and a new life-style, Lena is free to pursue her career and finds a job in an art gallery. With encouragement from her best friend, Cheryl, she heads to France, tickets in hand for a Tina Turner concern in Nice. This is where the story becomes alive; amongst the cobblestone streets, fabulous restaurants, and beautiful architecture, Lena feels her world finally opening up. A chance encounter with an ex-boyfriend adds even more steam to the equation.
Reading the first three-quarters of the book was like déjà vu. I had read this story before; the premise of middle-aged wife who has everything and chucks it all to find herself and her purpose was a running theme in the 1990s. But in France the story takes on a life of its own. The scenery, the food, and the sights, were vividly detailed. You could taste the white Bordeaux; savor the flaky croissants and fresh-caught sea bass. I could see the scenery captured by Lena’s camera lens on walking tours in both Nice and Paris; I felt as if I was there. One could feel Lena come alive and embrace all that was coming to her and you knew she was going to be all right and what had felt like an obsession with Tina Turner becomes symbolism for “a natural woman.” With her talented pen, Luckett does a credible job of giving readers a flavor of Oakland and the surrounding Bay Area community. I look forward to her next offering. Final rating 3.5
The advanced reading copy of this book was provided by the author for review purposes.
Dera R. Williams
APOOO BookClub
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Dera Williams is a writer and lives, works and plays in the Oakland/Bay Area where she works in curriculum at a local community college. She has contributed to several anthologies and journals including Life Spices from Seasoned Sistahs and Honoring Our Black Fathers and has written academic profiles for Greenwood press reference books. She is a reviewer/editor for APOOO Exchange Team and Affaire de Coeur magazine and active in literary events. Her book club affiliations include Marcus Book Club, East Bay Page Turners Book Club and Women of Words Book Club. Her other interests include genealogy, Black history and culture and travel.
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Dera, I read this book too. I liked the book but expected a different ending. I’m hoping there’s a sequel in the works.
.-= Shelia G´s last blog ..Pre-Screening Dates One Application at a Time =-.
I think I liked this book more than you did. I got really aggravated with Randall and was so glad when Lena started living for herself.
.-= Kathy R (Bermudaonion)´s last blog ..Our Life in France – banking, money and numbers =-.
SPOILER ALERT
Kathy, I was glad when Lena started living for herself but I thought she could have the best of both worlds–but she chose the other option.
.-= Shelia G´s last blog ..Pre-Screening Dates One Application at a Time =-.
@ Kathy and Shelia…I hope to dive into this one this weekend to see what all the ‘hype’is about.
Hi Shelia. I don’t know what I expected for the end but it was pretty predicatable. As far as I am concerned there doesn’t need to be a sequel.
.-= Dera Williams´s last blog ..Late, but Right on Time =-.
Kathy, Randall was a piece of cake and I can say a lot about him. He gave arrogant a whole new meaning. You know, it is really hard to say what a woman would do in this type of situation; there are so many variable and layers to it. Each man and woman is different. It is important though that a woman feels validated and a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s got to do.
.-= Dera Williams´s last blog ..Late, but Right on Time =-.
Thanks, Dera, and all, for the kind words. Lena is a smart character, temporarily derailed–typical of many Baby Boomer women. I’m hoping that Lena’s challenge will inspire readers to make the changes they need to–however they need to–to follow their own dreams.
Two questions in the readers’ guide ask the same questions you do–”If Lena had stayed, would she still have been able to pursue another of her dreams?” and “What would ‘you’ do?”
I hope they’ll provoke interesting answers and possibilities.